Improvement in mud-baths



H. J. BANG.

MUD-BATH. No.17Z,073. Patented 3111.11, 1:876.

I use for bathing purposes.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFIoE.

HENRY J. BANG, on NEW YORK, N. Y.

IMPROVEMENT IN MUD-BATHS.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 172,073, dated January11, 1876 application file October 4, 1875.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, HENRY J osEPH BANG, ofthe city, county, and State of New York, have invented a new and usefulImprovement in Mud-Baths, which improvement is fully set forth in thefollowing specification, reference being had to the accompanyingdrawing, in which Figure 1 represents a vertical section of abathing-tub which I use in carrying out my invention. Fig. 2 is a planortop view of the same.

This invention relates to an improved mudbathing apparatus; and consistsin a tub with a seat, and with a well for the legs, said tub beingprovided with shoulder-straps, and with knee-straps, for the purpose ofpreventing the body and the legs from being raised by the buoyancy ofthe mud.

With this bathing-tub is combined a steampipe provided with twobranches, for int-roducing steam into both compartments of the tub, soas to produce a uniform temperature throughout the entire tub; Theinvention further consists in the mode of heating mud-baths, the sameconsisting in steam-jets issuing into the body of the mud during theprocess of bathing, whereby the mud is kept at the required temperature,and is kept sufficiently moist to enable the bather to remain in thebath Without the formation of scale.

In the drawing, the letter A designates a tub, which is provided with aseat, a, that separates the tub in two compartments, b 0, one for thebody and the other for the legs. With this tub is combined a steampipe,B, having two branches, d e-one for each of the compartments of the tub.In front of the seat a is secured a strap, f, which is intended to bepassed over the knees or thighs of the person occupying the tub. Thetension of this strap is governed by a counter-weight,

(or a spring may be used,) and said strap serves to keep the legs downin the lower compartment or well c with a yielding pressure against thebuoyancy of themud which I Across the top of the tub are stretched twostraps, h h, which are intended to be passed over the shoulders of theperson occupying the tub, for the purpose of holding the same down. I

The material which I use for bathing purposes is mud heated with steam,the mud being selected and heated according to the diseases to betreated.

If a person is afflicted with rheumatism through the entire body, thetub A is used,

application of my steam-heated mud-bath many diseases can be cured forwhich heretoe fore no other remedy could be suggested.

By the introduction of steam, the mud is not only heated to the requiredtemperature, but it is also kept moist and in. the proper condition formy purpose.

I am aware that mud has been employed for the purpose of bathing; but indoing so the mud, on coming in contact with the body of the bather, notonly cools off, but it also dries in afew minutes, forming a hard scaleon the skin, producing a contraction of the skin, whereby thecirculation of the blood is partially stopped, and the efl'ect of thebath is destroyed. This defect is remedied by my invention by jets ofmoist steam being injected into the mud during the process of bathing,the mud being kept at the required temperature, and it is also keptsufficiently moist to enable the bather to remain in the bath for halfan hour or more without the formation of scale on the skin, and the fulleffect of the bath is obtained.

What I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

The process-of applying a mud-bath by injecting jets of. moist steaminto the body of the mud during the operation of bathing, substantiallyas described.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing I have hereunto set my hand andseal this 1st day of October, 1875.

H. J. BANG. [L. s], Witnesses:

W. HAUFF,

E. F. KAs'rENHUBER.

